Georgia CommonsSB 509: Insurance; certain health benefit policies to cover an annual chest imaging test for a covered person who has undergone a mastectomy or other cancer treatment; provide
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 17, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
Senate Bill 509
By: Senators Williams of the 25th, Burns of the 23rd, Dickerson of the 21st, Robertson of the 29th, Ginn of the 47th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to insurance generally, so as to provide for certain health benefit policies to cover an annual chest imaging test and any additional medically necessary chest imaging tests for a covered person who has undergone a mastectomy or other cancer treatment; to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to insurance generally, is amended by revising Code Section
33-24-59.32, relating to cost-sharing requirements for diagnostic and supplemental breast screening examinations, as follows:
"33-24-59.32.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Breast magnetic resonance imaging' or 'breast MRI' means a diagnostic and screening tool, including standard and abbreviated breast MRI, that uses radio waves and magnets to produce detailed images of structures within the breast.
(2) 'Breast ultrasound' means a noninvasive diagnostic and screening tool that uses high-frequency sound waves and their echoes to produce detailed images of structures within the breast.
(3) 'Chest imaging test' means a diagnostic and screening tool used to create detailed, visual imagery of the chest to diagnose and monitor the absence, presence, or spread of a disease, including, but not limited to, cancer. Such term shall include X-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography scans, and computed tomography scans of the chest.
(4) 'Cost-sharing requirement' means a deductible, coinsurance, or copayment and any maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or similar out-of-pocket expense.
(4)(5) 'Diagnostic breast examination' means a medically necessary and clinically appropriate examination of the breast, including such examination using breast MRI, breast ultrasound, or mammogram, that is:
(A) Used to evaluate an abnormality seen or suspected from a screening examination for breast cancer; or
(B) Used to evaluate an abnormality detected by another means of examination. (5)(6) 'Health benefit policy' means any individual or group plan, policy, or contract for health care healthcare services issued, delivered, issued for delivery, executed, or renewed by an insurer in this state, including, but not limited to, those contracts executed by the state on behalf of indigents and on behalf of state employees under Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45, by a healthcare corporation, health maintenance organization, preferred provider organization, accident and sickness insurer, fraternal benefit society, or other insurer or similar entity. Such term shall not include any policy of limited benefit insurance as defined in paragraph (4) of subsection (e) of Code Section 33-30-12. Such term shall not include any self-insured health benefit plan subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. Section 1001, et seq.
(6)(7) 'Insurer' means any person, corporation, or other entity authorized to provide health benefit policies under this title.
(7)(8) 'Mammogram' means a diagnostic or screening mammography exam using a low-dose X-ray to produce an image of the breast.
(9) 'Mastectomy' means surgical removal of one or both breasts. (8)(10) 'Supplemental breast screening examination' means a medically necessary and clinically appropriate examination of the breast, including such examination using breast MRI, breast ultrasound, or mammogram, that is:
(A) Used to screen for breast cancer when there is no abnormality seen or suspected in the breast; or
(B) Based on personal or family medical history or additional factors that may increase the individual's risk of breast cancer.
(b) A health benefit policy that provides coverage for diagnostic breast examinations for breast cancer shall include provisions that ensure that the cost-sharing requirements applicable to diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast screening examinations are no less favorable than the cost-sharing requirements applicable to screening mammography for breast cancer.
(b.1) A health benefit policy that provides coverage for diagnostic breast examinations shall provide coverage for an annual chest imaging test and any additional medically necessary and clinically appropriate chest imaging tests for a covered person who has undergone a mastectomy or other cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to preclude existing utilization review provided under Chapter 46 of this title.
(d) If under federal law application of subsection (b) of this Code section would result in Health Savings Account ineligibility under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code, such cost-sharing requirement shall apply only for Health Savings Account qualified High Deductible Health Plans with respect to the deductible of such plan after the enrollee has satisfied the minimum deductible under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code, except with respect to items or services that are preventive care pursuant to Section 223(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which case the requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section shall apply regardless of whether the minimum deductible under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code has been satisfied.
(e) The Commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section in accordance with current guidelines established by professional medical organizations such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026, and shall apply to all policies or contracts issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after such date.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.